Ha Long Bay :
Magnificent Ha Long Bay lies in the middle of the Quang Ninh, some 180km from Hanoi. The bay covers an area of 1,500 sq. km with thousands of islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Bac Bo Gulf. The bottom of the bay is some 200m deep.

The book "Les Merveillers du Monde" published by Hechette, Paris in 1950 classified Ha Long Bay as one of the wonders of the world. Recently the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) recognized Ha Long Bay as heritage of the world. Ha Long means "Where the Dragon Descends into the Sea". According to legend, a great dragon plunged into the sea from his home in the mountains. Twisting and turning along towards the coast, his failing tail gouged out huge crevices and valleys, and when he reached the sea, the water he displaced rushed onto the valleys, filling them up and leaving only the peaks which emerge from the surface and form some thousands of islands and islets. At present about 1,000 islands are named, but many remain nameless or, as yet, unidentified. The islands are infinitely varied in shape, evoking all kinds of animals, hence their names: Dragon Island, Monkey Island, Toad Islet, Turtle Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and so on.

Ships and motor-boats are available for tourist cruises for a day or even for a month among the many is lands and grottoes, allowing you to explore nature's hidden marvels.

Hang Dau Go (the Grotto of Wooden Stakes) is the most beautiful grotto and also a favourite of tourists in Ha Long Bay. The name of the grotto is related to a historical story: In preparation for an ambush on the Mongol invaders in 1288, General Tran Hung Dao (alias Tran Quoc Tuan) had hard wood stakes hidden in the grotto and planted in the bed of the Bach Dang River to cut off the retreat of the enemy. Earlier in 1287 the grotto had served as a shelter for General Tran Khanh Du's troops lying in ambush awaiting the food supply fleet of the Mongols. The grotto is situated on a limestone island nearly 190m above sea level, and some 8km to the south from the motor-boat wharf. The mouth of the grotto is in the middle of the island. After climbing some 90 steps, you enter the first, large chamber which could accommodate one or two thousand people. Here there are many stone stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colour. There is a stalagmite, some 20m high, which looks like an Arhat standing on a lotus-flower stand with a stick in his hand. The walls of the second chamber sparkle if bright light is shined on them. In the final chamber there is a cool, fresh water well all year round.

In the 19th century, French tourists called Hang Dau Go "Grotte des Merveilers" for the wide range of shapes and colours of its stalactites and stalagmites and beautiful sparkling light.

Bo Nau Grotto:
Different from Dau Go Grotto, which lies deep in the island, the grotto of Bo Nau is a short one. Sitting on Bo Nau you can have a large view of the sea and remote island as far as your eyes can see.

Bo Nau in Vietnamese means pigeon. In the old days this place used to be the place for innumerable numbers of birds to have shelter and build their nests. Later when more and more people settled, fewer and fewer pigeons came, until finally they quit the breeding ground altogether.

Another famous grotto is Trinh Nu (Virgin) which is also called by tourists as the "Surprising Grotto" for its amazing scenic entrance. Tourists favourites also include Hang Hanh Cave and Tuan Chau Island. Mount Bai Tho (Poem): The poem-carved mountain in 106m high. It stands half on land and half in sea in the coastal Ha Long City. Sailing in the bay one or two hundred meters from the mountain you could see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.

In 1468, King Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, paid an inspection tour of the northeast region. He stopped over right at the foot of the mountain. Inspired by the magnificent beauty he found, he wrote a poem and had it engraved on the wall of the mountain. Since then it was dubbed Nui Bai Tho (Mount Poem). It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy a panoramic view of the bay.

Cua Ong Temple stands on a beautiful hill near the Cua Ong Port, overlooking Bai Tu Long. The temple is dedicated to Tran Quoc Toan, the second son of General Tran Hung Dao, for his merit of building a border defense post in the area and important contribution to the success of the nation's war of resistance against the Mongol invasion. Mount Yen Tu: Rising high from the vast range of mountains in the northeastern region is Muont Yen Tu, 1,068 m above sea level Yen Tu is famous for its picturesque scenery. Many royal dynasties classified it as the "beautiful mountain" of the country.

Driving for 40km on Road 18 from Ha Long City, tourists reach Uong Bi town, where they prepare some more food and water to continue their journey to Yen Tu. The old name of the mountain was Nui Voi (Elephant Mountain) because it looks like an elephant turning his head to the sea. In some historical book, the mountain was called Bach Van Son Mountain of White Cloud) for it was blanked with white cloud all the year round.

Yen Tu is more famous for it was in this mountainous area in the 13th century the kings of the Tran Dynasty came to practice Buddhism and develop a new Buddhist sect called Truc Lam Tam To. Numerous magnificent pagodas and towers still remain around Yen Tu, attracting a great number of local as well as foreign visitors.

Bach Dang Stake-Yard:
The Bach Dang Stake-Yard is situated in the marshy zone of the village of Yan Giang commune that borders the Chanh River in Yen Hung District, Quang Ninh Province. The Bach Dang Stake Yard was officially recognized as one of Vietnam's historic vestiges on March 22, 1988, the 700th anniversary of the great victory at Bach Dang against Mongol invader.

The stake-yard is the site where Tran Hung Dao, a national hero of the 13th century, is forever honoured.
In 973, or 1060 years ago, the talented military general Ngo Quyen raised the banner of patriotism against foreign aggression for national independence. He was the son-in-law of General Duong Dinh Nghe, a native of Thanh Hoa who rendered great service in the previous fight against foreign invaders. When General Duong was killed by a village chief named Kieu Cong Tien to seize the post of generalissimo, Ngo Quyen replaced his father-in-law in upholding the banner of insurrection and killed the renegade in November 938.

At that time, on the pretext that Kieu Cong Tien had asked for help, the northern feudalists moved their troops in for an invasion. Aware of the naval strength of the enemy and an attempt to land troops from the sea, Ngo Quyen trained his troops for naval battles, ready to encounter the enemy. He ordered his men to strike pointed iron capped wooden stakes into the bed of the Bach Dang river at a strategic place in the estuary. At high tide, the picket field was totally submerged and Ngo Quyen's troops used light boats to intercept the enemy then, feinting defeat, moved back to the area where the trap had been laid. A fierce naval battle took place there. When the tide swiftly ebbed, Ngo Quyen ordered his forces to launch a concerted offensive. Enemy boats, so large and so weighty as they were, crowded into the river and were entangled in rows of pointed wooden poles. Panic-stricken, the enemy boats in their retreat struck against the poles or collided with one another as the tide swiftly ebbed. Many boats were broken or sunk. More than half the enemy fleet and troops were destroyed. Joint action by the land and naval forces inflicted a heavy defeat on the enemy with the chief commander failing to make his escape.

Enemy troop reinforcements were dispatched to the battle scene but when inform of the debacle by the marine forces midway, they abandoned the attempt. The invasion of the northern feudalists was crushed.

The historic Bach Dang victory at the end of 938 put an end to the thousand-year-long danger of the country being lost and assimilated into China with the disappearance of its own unique Vietnamese national identity.

I. Grottoes

Dau Go (Driftwood) Grotto :
Dau Go Grotto is found on Driftwood Island, formerly known as Canh Doc Island. The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and, as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance is reached via 90 steps up the island. The grotto is divided into three main parts. In the first chamber, many forms can be seen in the rock, depending on the imagination of the observer. In the middle of the chamber, on the top of the pillar, there appears to be a monk draped in a long, dark cloak, with his right hand clasping a cane. Moving into the second chamber, visitors pass through a narrow "door", naturally formed through erosion. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water surrounded by four ancient walls.

In this grotto, there remains an engraved stone stele singing the praises of Halong Bay ordered by Emperor Khai Dinh when he came to visit the grotto in 1917. Dau Go is 40 minutes from Bai Chay. Admission is 15,000 VND per person, 5,000 VND for children under 15, and children under 6 are free.

Note: the admission here is for one tour of Dau Go cave, Thien Cung grotto and another. If visitors want to go on an additional tour (tour 2), it costs 15,000 VND extra.

Trinh Nu (Virgin) Grotto-Trong (Male) Grotto :
The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is a popular romantic rendezvous site.

According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the fisherman’s daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today’s Male Grotto).

When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls of the grotto can still be heard.

Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto :
This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.

According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto. All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.

In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven". From the base to the top, many strange images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum made by the wind blowing through the stone.

In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto :
Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block. Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water goddesses.

Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites.

II. Islands

Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain) :
Bai Tho Mountain is 106 m high. It runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.

In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.

Tuan Chau Islet :
Situated 3 km west of Dao Go Islet, Tuan Chau Islet has an area of 300 ha. On the islet, there is a very simple bamboo house built by the inhabitants of Quang Ninh for Uncle Ho to rest after visiting Halong Bay. The house is now carefully preserved by the locals.

III. Beaches

Bai Chay :
Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20^oC (68^oF).

Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.

Quynh Lam Pagoda :
The Quynh Lam Pagoda is situated in Trang An commune, Quang Ninh province. This is one of the most famous ancient pagodas in Vietnam.

According to the legend, under the Ly dynasty, the bronze Khong Lo casted at Quynh Lam pagoda a statue of Meitrey a Buddha, about 20 meters high was regarded as the one of the four national most precious things in that time.

After many natural calamities, rebellions and wars, in 1629 Quynh Lam pagoda was reconstructed and replenished with new altars, porches, right and left corridors, habitations for bonzes, stores, three-entrance gate, bell tower are in total 103 compartment.

Thien Cung Grotto :
Thien Cung Grotto is in the neighborhood of the grotto of the wooden piles. In 1995, a fisherman discovered a new grotto, which afterwards became known as Thien Cung grotto. This is perhaps the most beautiful grotto in Halong Bay. The multiform stalactites and stalagmites in the grotto have attracted thousands of tourists. The grotto is about 15 m above the sea level. This will be - with some investment - a special sight of Halong Bay tourism.

Tra Co Beach (Hai Phong City) :
Tra Co Beach can be reached by boat from Haiphong or Hong Gai, by minibus from Hong Gai, and by motorcycle from Mong Cai. It is easy to reach Tra Co Beach from Mong Cai because of the road linking the land to the island. Located next to the Chinese border, Tra Co Beach is one of the most charming beaches in Vietnam.

Tra Co Beach stretches on 15 km of white sand beach, situated on the outer edge of the island. The coastline is bordered by sand dunes where densely populated villages are located. The beach is shaded by sandalwood trees, protecting the village from the wind and the sand.

The average temperature in Tra Co is 23^°C, although it tends to fall below 20^°C from December to March. The hottest months are June and July when the temperatures reach 26 and 28^°C.  Tra Co Beach is the ideal location place to spend vacations and holidays.  

Tra  Co Church :
In Tra Co, there is a beautiful church that was built in 1880. In 1995, the church was restored to its form of 100 years ago. Among it relics, there is a giant bell and hundreds of beautifully crafted sculptures. The church is a famous tourist attraction in Mong Cai town, Quang Ninh province.

Trinh Nu Burrow (Burrow of the virgin) :
Trinh Nu runs winding in the heart of the island for more than 2 km. In this burrow, there are many compartments, each with its own beauty with many splendid lifelike stalactites and stalagmites. Many tourists have been awestruck, by their beauty and have given this grotto another name, "utter surprise grotto".